Integrated Cable Modem And Cable Television Management System

ABSTRACT

An audio/video (A/V) processing system may receive a broadcast signal that includes commercials. The system may detect a first communication in the broadcast signal and obtain a user commercial type selection. The system may control whether to present the first commercial in the broadcast signal responsive to the user commercial type selection. The system may also determine a commercial placement location for relocating the first commercial within the broadcast signal, which may include a commercial sequence.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 09/954,520 entitled “INTEGRATED CABLE TELEVISION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM,filed Sep. 17, 2001, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 09/805,589 entitled “INTEGRATED CABLE MODEM ANDCABLE TELEVISION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM,” filed Mar. 13, 2001, which in turnclaims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of provisional application forpatent No. 60/188,779 filed Mar. 13, 2000. All of the above applicationsare hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety, includingany drawings and appendices, and are made part of the present U.S.Patent Application for all purposes.

The following U.S. Patents are hereby incorporated herein by referencein their entirety, including any drawings and appendices, and are madepart of the present U.S. Patent Application for all purposes:

1) U.S. Pat. No. 5,790,536, entitled “HIERARCHICAL COMMUNICATION SYSTEMPROVIDING INTELLIGENT DATA, PROGRAM AND PROCESSING MIGRATION,” filedJun. 7, 1995 and issued Aug. 4, 1998.

2) U.S. Pat. No. 5,726,984, entitled “HIERARCHICAL DATA COLLECTIONNETWORK SUPPORTING PACKETIZED VOICE COMMUNICATIONS AMONG WIRELESSTERMINALS AND TELEPHONES,” filed Oct. 5, 1995 and issued Mar. 10, 1998.

The following U.S. Patent Application is hereby incorporated herein byreference in its entirety, including any drawings and appendices, and ismade part of the present U.S. Patent Application for all purposes:

1) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/1183,767, entitled “ENHANCEDMOBILITY AND ADDRESS RESOLUTION IN A WIRELESS PREMISES BASED NETWORK,”(Attorney Docket No. DN38314RX), filed Oct. 30, 1998.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to audio and video mediacommunication, storage, display, and processing; and, more particularly,it relates to various methods and systems operable to performcommunication, storage, and processing of audio and video media within,among, and between various media operable systems including anintegrated cable modem and cable television management system that isoperable to receive and manage signals via airwave and satellitebroadcast, Internet, and dedicated wireline transmission.

2. Related Art

Traditional cable television broadcast systems typically include a cabletelevision broadcast center and a television that is operable to receivethose broadcast signals. There is typically no communication between thecable television broadcast center and the television other that thereceipt of programming of the signal by the television from the cabletelevision broadcast center. Commonly, a user of a television withinsuch a system is limited to the programming that is provided by thecable television broadcast center.

Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditionalsystems will become apparent to one of skill in the art throughcomparison of such systems with the present invention as set forth inthe remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A better understanding of the present invention can be obtained when thefollowing detailed description of various exemplary embodiments isconsidered in conjunction with the following drawings.

FIG. 1 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of a signalflow/management that is performed in accordance with certain aspects ofthe present invention.

FIG. 2 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of an integratedcable modem and cable television management system built in accordancewith certain aspects of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a system diagram illustrating another embodiment of anintegrated cable modem and cable television management system built inaccordance with certain aspects of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of a signalrecording/buffering system built in accordance with certain aspects ofthe present invention.

FIG. 5 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of a commercialmanagement system built in accordance with certain aspects of thepresent invention.

FIG. 6 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of a contentmanagement system built in accordance with certain aspects of thepresent invention.

FIG. 7 A is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of a timecompression system built in accordance with certain aspects of thepresent invention.

FIG. 7B is a system diagram illustrating another embodiment of a timecompression system built in accordance with certain aspects of thepresent invention.

FIG. 8 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of a televisionmanagement system built in accordance with certain aspects of thepresent invention.

FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram illustrating an embodiment of abroadcast signal processing method performed in accordance with certainaspects of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram illustrating an embodiment of adigital signal processing method performed in accordance with thepresent invention.

FIG. 11 is a functional block diagram illustrating an embodiment of asignal processing method performed in accordance with certain aspects ofthe present invention.

FIG. 12 is a functional block diagram illustrating a send processperformed using certain aspects of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a functional block diagram illustrating a receive processperformed using certain aspects of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of a vehicleadapted media system that is built in accordance with certain aspects ofthe present invention.

FIG. 15 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of a portableadapted media system that is built in accordance with certain aspects ofthe present invention.

FIG. 16 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of a media servernetwork constructed in accordance with certain aspects of the presentinvention.

FIG. 17 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of an adaptivemedia server network that is built in accordance with certain aspects ofthe present invention.

FIG. 18 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of vehicleadapted media system operation that is performed in accordance withcertain aspects of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of portableadapted media system operation that is performed in accordance withcertain aspects of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In view of the above detailed description of the present invention andassociated drawings, other modifications and variations will now becomeapparent to those skilled in the art. It should also be apparent thatsuch other modifications and variations may be effected withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of a signalflow/management 100 that is performed in accordance with certain aspectsof the present invention. The signal flow/management 100 is illustrativeof one manner in which an analog broadcast signal 140 is converted intoa playback signal 130. In some embodiments of the invention, a digitalbroadcast signal 145 is converted into the playback signal 130. Forthose embodiments wherein the analog broadcast signal 140 is convertedinto the playback signal 130, an analog to digital converter (ADC)circuitry 112 is operable to receive the analog broadcast signal 140 andperform any requisite operation to convert the analog broadcast signal140 into the digital broadcast signal 145. The digital broadcast signal145 is, in certain embodiments of the invention, contained within anintegrated cable modem and cable television management system and itsdigital format assists in any necessary signal processing on the signal.If desired, the analog to digital converter (ADC) circuitry 112 containsa compression circuitry 112 a and a motion picture expert group 3 (MP3)operable circuitry 112 b. Moreover, the analog to digital converter(ADC) circuitry 112 is to transform the analog broadcast signal 140 intothe digital broadcast signal 145 wherein the digital broadcast signal145 wherein the digital broadcast signal 145 is of the motion pictureexpert group 2 (MPEG2). In other embodiments, the analog broadcastsignal 140 is transformed into the MPEG2 standard for reproduction of asignal in high definition television (HDTV) operable systems.

In other embodiments of the invention, the motion picture expert group 3(MP3) operable circuitry 112 b is capable to transform the analogbroadcast signal 140 into the digital broadcast signal 145 wherein thedigital broadcast signal 145 is of the MP3 format. Also, the compressioncircuitry 112 a is operable to perform any signal processing during theconversion of the analog broadcast signal 140 to the digital broadcastsignal 145 that would assist in the preservation or conservation ofprocessing and storage resources within an integrated cable modem andcable television management system in accordance with the presentinvention.

The digital broadcast signal 145 is passed to a signalretrieval/reproduction circuitry 118 for final conversion into theplayback signal 130. The signal retrieval/reproduction circuitry 118contains, in certain embodiments of the invention, a de-compressioncircuitry 118 a and a motion picture expert group 3 (MP3) operablecircuitry 118 b. The de-compression circuitry 118 a is used toreconstruct the previously compressed analog broadcast 140, that is nowin the digital broadcast signal 145 format, into a form suitable forplayback using any number of devices including a television or anintegrated cable modem and cable television management system.Similarly, the motion picture expert group 3 (Mp3) operable circuitry118 b is operable to reconstruct and reproduce the previously convertedanalog broadcast 140, that is now in the digital broadcast signal 145MP3 format, into a form suitable for playback of any MP3 encoded signal.The playback signal 130 is of a form of either video or audio or acombination of video and audio, depending on the original format of theanalog broadcast signal 140 or the format of the digital broadcastsignal 145. The motion picture expert group 3 (MP3) standard is known inthe art to be amenable to encoding either video or audio data. Thesignal flow/management 100 is illustrative of a generic overview of themanagement of signals in either analog or digital format wherein anoriginal signal is received, and any signal processing is performed onthe original signal, and the signal is converted into a format capableof being played back using any number of signal playback media includingaudio playback media, video playback media known in the art of audio andvideo data signal processing. Throughout the detailed description of theinvention, the use and reference of video data or video signals includesboth audio and video data as well as audio data individually.

FIG. 2 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of an integratedcable modem and cable television management system 200 built inaccordance with certain aspects of the present invention. The integratedcable modem and cable television management system 200, in its mostbasic representation, contains a cable television server 230 and anintegrated cable modem and cable television 210. The cable televisionserver 230 contains any number of methods to transmit and provide videoand audio broadcast signals. For example, the cable television server230 includes, among other things, a cable television broadcast service232, a cable television satellite broadcast service 234, and a cabletelevision wireline broadcast service 236. The cable television server230 is operable to provide signals in either analog or digital formatwithout departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Forexample, the cable television server is operable to provide an analogbroadcast signal 240 and a digital broadcast signal 250. The analogbroadcast signal 240 contains an airwave broadcast signal 242 in certainembodiments of the invention. The airwave broadcast signal 242 includesthe traditional method of transmitting a broadcast signal from atelevision tower wherein the signal is transmitted using conventionalradio transmission and other electromagnetic frequencies including theultra high frequency (UHF: 300-3000 MHz) and very high frequency (VHF:30-300 MHz) frequency spectra known in the art of television airwavebroadcast. The analog broadcast signal 240 is provided directly to theintegrated cable modem and cable television 210 from the cabletelevision server 230.

In addition, the cable television server provides the digital broadcastsignal 250 that itself contains any number of signal types having adigital format such as a high definition television (HDTV) signal 252and a digital satellite broadcast signal 254. Moreover, the digitalbroadcast signal 250 is operable to be provided via an Internet 260path. In such embodiments, the Internet 260 provides the digitalbroadcast signal 250 to the integrated cable modem and cable television210. Alternatively, the digital broadcast signal 250 is provideddirectly to the integrated cable modem and cable television 210 withoutgoing through the Internet 260.

The integrated cable modem and cable television 210 itself contains anumber of circuitries to perform the handling of the signal provided bythe cable television server 230, whether the signal be provided as theanalog broadcast signal 240 or the digital broadcast signal 250. In thecase when the signal provided is the analog broadcast signal 240, ananalog to digital converter CADC) circuitry 212 within the integratedcable modem and cable television 210 performs the requisite signalprocessing on the analog broadcast signal 240 to perform any subsequentdigital signal processing on the analog broadcast signal 240, includingstorage and playback of the analog broadcast signal 240. If desired, anMP3 operable circuitry 213 is operable in conjunction with the analog todigital converter (ADC) circuitry 212 to convert the analog broadcastsignal 240 into a proper digital format.

The digital format may include a strictly audio signal, such as an “MP3”format, in certain embodiments of the invention. Any other digitalformat is also included within the scope and spirit of the inventionincluding digital signals having both audio and video content. Forexample, the MPEG-3 standard is a standard that was originally intendedfor high definition television (HDTV), but it was later abandoned infavor of MPEG-2. Such standards are also included within the scope andspirit of the invention. The various embodiments of the presentinvention are operable using any of the MPEG-2, MP3, or generically anMPEG-2/3 standard that operates with the desired digital data format.When the signal provided is the digital broadcast signal 250, and it isprovided via the Internet 260, it is fed into a cable modem 216 withinthe integrated cable modem and cable television 210. Alternatively, thedigital broadcast signal 250 is capable of being fed directly into thecable modem 216 in certain embodiments of the invention without havinggone through the Internet 260. In addition, the digital broadcast signal250 is capable of being fed directly into a signal management circuitry214 in certain embodiments of the invention.

The digital broadcast signal 250 is eventually fed into the signalmanagement circuitry 214, regardless of the path it has taken. Inaddition, the analog broadcast signal 240 is also fed into the signalmanagement circuitry 214, regardless of the path it has taken. Inaddition, the analog broadcast signal 240 is also fed into the signalmanagement circuitry 214, after having passed through the analog todigital converter (ADC) circuitry 212. The signal management circuitry214 is operable to do a variety of functions, several of which arefurther described later in various embodiments of the invention. Thesignal management circuitry 214 is operable to pass the broadcastsignal, whether it is originally in the form of the analog broadcastsignal 240 or the digital broadcast signal 250, to a signal storagecircuitry 220. The signal storage circuitry 220 contains a hard drive222 in certain embodiments of the invention. Present technologicalstorage capacities of hard drives is approximately one (1) Giga-bytememory required to store approximately one (1) hour of video signaldata. A hard drive of approximately fourteen (14) Giga-byte memory ispresently known in the art. A hard drive of close to thirty (30)Giga-byte memory is foreseeable in the near future. Clearly, as thestorage capacities of hard drives continues to increase, the totalstorage of data will increase as well. A signal retrieval/reproductioncircuitry 218 is used to take the broadcast signal and reproduce it foran end user. The end user is an individual watching the broadcast signal(video) or listening to the broadcast signal (audio) in certainembodiments of the invention. Alternatively, the end user is additionalcircuitry that is operable to perform signal processing on the broadcastsignal. The signal retrieval/reproduction circuitry 218 includes anyreproduction media that is operable to perform reproduction of thebroadcast signal in a form suitable for viewing, listening, oradditional signal processing in accordance with the present invention.

The integrated cable modem and cable television management system 200 isoperable to receive a broadcast signal in either analog or digital formand to store the broadcast signal using the signal storage circuitry220, to perform immediate or delayed playback using the signalretrieval/reproduction circuitry 218. The integrated cable modem andcable television management system 200 is operable to perform anydesired compression on the broadcast signal before storing it in thesignal storage circuitry 220 as well.

FIG. 3 is a system diagram illustrating another embodiment of anintegrated cable modem and cable television management system 300 builtin accordance with certain aspects of the present invention. Theintegrated cable modem and cable television management system 300, inits most basic representation, contains a cable television server 330and an integrated cable modem and cable television 310. The cabletelevision server 330 is operable to provide a cable televisionbroadcast service 332 or an archived broadcast database 334. Thearchived broadcast database 334 contains, in certain embodiments of theinvention, archives of past broadcasts of the cable television server330. In even other embodiments of the invention, the archived broadcastdatabase 334 contains the future, planned broadcasts of the cabletelevision server 330.

The cable television broadcast service 332 of the cable televisionserver 330 provides an airwave broadcast signal 340 that is fed to theintegrated cable modem and cable television 310. The archived broadcastdatabase 334 of the cable television server 330 provides a signaloperable to provide both a video-on-demand 350 and an offline videodownload 365. Either of the video-on-demand 350 and the offline videodownload 365 is operable to be provided to the integrated cable modemand cable television 310 via an Internet 360. Alternatively, thevideo-on-demand 350 is operable to be provided directly to theintegrated cable modem and cable television 310.

In addition, the integrated cable modem and cable television 310 is alsooperable to perform download and playback of streaming video 367 fromthe cable television server 330. The streaming video download 367includes streaming download and playback of data that has an audiocomponent and a video component as well as solely an audio component orsolely a video component as described within various embodiments. As isknown in the art of streaming data, a portion of the data may bedownloaded to a buffer and the playback being initiated during the timein which the remainder of the streaming data is received. If desired, aportion of executable code, stored within the integrated cable modem andcable television 310, initiates the streaming video independent of anyuser interaction; alternatively, some user-interaction is requiredbefore the streaming video 367 commences. Also, this streaming video 367is operable via the Internet 360 or directly to the cable modem 316 asdesired in various embodiments of the invention.

The integrated cable modem and cable television 310 uses an analog todigital converter (ADC) circuitry 312, and if desired, an MP3 operablecircuitry 313, to accommodate the airwave broadcast signal 340 when itis in analog format. The signal is then fed into a signal managementcircuitry 314. Similarly, the archived broadcast signal 334, is fed intothe signal management circuitry 314, after having been received via theInternet 360, through a cable modem 316, or fed directly to the signalmanagement circuitry 314 from the video-on-demand 350.

The integrated cable modem and cable television 310 uses a signalstorage circuitry 320, containing a hard drive 322 in certainembodiments of the invention, and a signal retrieval/reproductioncircuitry 318 in similar fashion as the integrated cable modem and cabletelevision 210 of the FIG. 2 to perform storage and retrieval of thebroadcast or archived signal. The integrated cable modem and cabletelevision 310 is operable to perform retrieval and downloading of thebroadcast signals using a variety of methods including thevideo-on-demand 350 or the offline video download 365 that are operableto retrieve a broadcast from the archived broadcast database 334.

FIG. 4 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of a signalrecording/buffering system 400 built in accordance with certain aspectsof the present invention. The signal recording/buffering system 400, inits most basic representation, contains a cable television server 430and an integrated cable modem and cable television 410. The cabletelevision server 430 is operable to provide a cable televisionbroadcast service 432 or an archived broadcast database 434. Thearchived broadcast database 434 contains, in certain embodiments of theinvention, archives of past broadcasts of the cable television server430. In even other embodiments of the invention, the archived broadcastdatabase 434 contains the future, planned broadcasts of the cabletelevision server 430.

The cable television broadcast service 432 of the cable televisionserver 430 provides an airwave broadcast signal 440 that is fed to theintegrated cable modem and cable television 410. The archived broadcastdatabase 434 of the cable television server 430 provides a signaloperable to provide both a video-on-demand 450 and an offline videodownload 465. Either of the video-on-demand 450 and the offline videodownload 465 is operable to be provided to the integrated cable modemand cable television 410 via an Internet 460. Alternatively, thevideo-on-demand 450 is operable to be provided directly to theintegrated cable modem and cable television 410.

In addition, the integrated cable modem and cable television 410 is alsooperable to perform download and playback of streaming video 467 fromthe cable television server 430. The streaming video download 467includes streaming download and playback of data that has an audiocomponent and a video component as well as solely an audio component orsolely a video component as described within various embodiments. As isknown in the art of streaming data, a portion of the data may bedownloaded to a buffer and the playback being initiated during the timein which the remainder of the streaming data is received. If desired, aportion of executable code, stored within the integrated cable modem andcable television 410, initiates the streaming video independent of anyuser interaction; alternatively, some user-interaction is requiredbefore the streaming video 467 commences. Also, this streaming video 467is operable via the Internet 460 or directly to the cable modem 416 asdesired in various embodiments of the invention.

The integrated cable modem and cable television 410 employs a signalmanagement circuitry 414 to control the recording and buffering ofbroadcasts signals, analog and digital. The integrated cable modem andcable television 410 uses a signal storage circuitry 420, containing ahard drive 422 in certain embodiments of the invention, and a signalretrieval/reproduction circuitry 418 in similar fashion as theintegrated cable modem and cable television 210 of the FIG. 2 and theintegrated cable modem and cable television 310 of the FIG. 3 to performstorage and retrieval of the broadcast or archived signal.

The signal management circuitry 414 contains a signal recordingcircuitry 414 a that itself contains, a scheduling circuitry 414 aa, asignal quality monitoring circuitry 414 bb, a digitalretrieval/recording circuitry 414 cc, and an airwave broadcast recordingcircuitry 414 dd. The scheduling circuitry 414 aa is operable to perusethe archived broadcast database 434 to extract past broadcasts andschedule when they are to be played back. Similarly, the schedulingcircuitry 414 aa is operable to peruse the archived broadcast database434 to decide which broadcast segments to record in the future. Thesignal quality monitoring circuitry 414 bb is operable to monitor thequality of the incoming signal, and reduce either or both of the audioor video quality of the signal in an effort to maintain constantplayback of a broadcast signal. For example, in certain embodiments ofthe invention, the provision of the broadcast signal may suffer as afunction of bandwidth of the cable modem, or the quality the airwavebroadcast signal 440 could suffer as a function of whether, and in orderto ensure uninterrupted service, the signal quality monitoring circuitry414 bb is operable to reduce the number of frames per unit time that aredisplayed or to reduce the audio quality from stereo to mono.

Similar bandwidth and processing resource measures are within the scopeand spirit of the invention. The digital retrieval/recording circuitry414 cc is operable to perform independent retrieval of broadcastscontained within the archived broadcast database 434. The digitalretrieval/recording circuitry 414 cc is operable, in certain embodimentsof the invention, in conjunction with the scheduling circuitry 414 aa todecide what to download and when to download it from the archivedbroadcast database 434. The airwave broadcast recording circuitry 414 ddis operable to record the airwave broadcast signal 440 in real time. Ifdesired, when a broadcast program is decided to be recorded duringbroadcast, the airwave broadcast recording circuitry 414 dd is operableto record the remaining portion of the broadcast signal whereas thedigital retrieval/recording circuitry 414 cc is operable is operable toretrieve the preceding portion of the broadcast that has already passed.In such embodiments of the invention, a dual recording of the broadcastprogram is being performed, one from the airwave broadcast signal 440 asit is being broadcast in real time and the other from the archivedbroadcast database 434. If desired, the entirety of the broadcastprogram could be downloaded from the archived broadcast database 434 insuch an embodiment after the broadcast is complete, and the airwavebroadcast signal 440 could be displayed in real time to a user.Alternatively, once a user identifies a broadcast (in progress) that hewished to record, the entire program could be downloaded, from itsbeginning, from the archived broadcast database 434, in a delayed mannersuch that to a user, the entire program is “new” and not seen before.

FIG. 5 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of a commercialmanagement system 500 built in accordance with certain aspects of thepresent invention. The commercial management system 500, in its mostbasic representation, contains a cable television server 530 and anintegrated cable modem and cable television 510. The cable televisionserver 530 is operable to provide a cable television broadcast service532 or an archived broadcast database 534. The archived broadcastdatabase 534 contains, in certain embodiments of the invention, archivesof past broadcasts of the cable television server 530. In even otherembodiments of the invention, the archived broadcast database 534contains the future, planned broadcasts of the cable television server530.

The cable television broadcast service 532 of the cable televisionserver 530 provides an airwave broadcast signal 540 that is fed to theintegrated cable modem and cable television 510. The archived broadcastdatabase 534 of the cable television server 530 provides a signaloperable to provide both a video-on-demand 550 and an offline videodownload 565. Either of the video-on-demand 550 and the offline videodownload 565 is operable to be provided to the integrated cable modemand cable television 510 via an Internet 560. Alternatively, thevideo-on-demand 550 is operable to be provided directly to theintegrated cable modem and cable television 510.

In addition, the integrated cable modem and cable television 510 is alsooperable to perform download and playback of streaming video 567 fromthe cable television server 530. The streaming video download 567includes streaming download and playback of data that has an audiocomponent and a video component as well as solely an audio component orsolely a video component as described within various embodiments. As isknown in the art of streaming data, a portion of the data may bedownloaded to a buffer and the playback being initiated during the timein which the remainder of the streaming data is received. If desired, aportion of executable code, stored within the integrated cable modem andcable television 510, initiates the streaming video independent of anyuser interaction; alternatively, some user-interaction is requiredbefore the streaming video 567 commences. Also, this streaming video 567is operable via the Internet 560 or directly to the cable modem 516 asdesired in various embodiments of the invention.

The integrated cable modem and cable television 510 uses a signalstorage circuitry 520, containing a hard drive 522 in certainembodiments of the invention, and a signal retrieval/reproductioncircuitry 518 in similar fashion as the integrated cable modem and cabletelevision 210 of the FIG. 2, the integrated cable modem and cabletelevision 310 of the FIG. 3, and the integrated cable modem and cabletelevision 410 of the FIG. 4 to perform storage and retrieval of thebroadcast or archived signal.

The integrated cable modem and cable television 510 contains acommercial management circuitry 514 that itself contains a commercialprofiler circuitry 514 a and a commercial detection circuitry 514 cc.The commercial profiler circuitry 514 a contains a commercialinteraction/query circuitry 514 aa and a commercial placement circuitry514 bb. The integrated cable modem and cable television 510 is operableto detect a commercial, whether the commercial is contained in an analogor digital broadcast signal. The commercial pro filer circuitry 514 a isoperable to be used within the integrated cable modem and cabletelevision 510 to control the type and sequence of commercials that aregoing to be viewed by a user of the integrated cable modem and cabletelevision 510. For example, the commercial interaction/query circuitry514 aa is operable to allow a user to select those commercials thathe/she would like to view. The commercial placement circuitry 514 bb isoperable to control the sequence of when the commercials are viewed bythe user. For example, a user may select that all the commercials of abroadcast be placed at the beginning of the broadcast, similar to howcommercials and advertisements are placed in the movie industry.Alternatively, a user may select the grouping of what types ofcommercials are to shown together. A user can use the commercialprofiler circuitry 514 a to personalize the commercials that he/she isshown. In addition, a user could use the commercial profiler circuitry514 a, in conjunction with the commercial detection circuitry 514 cc, toskip all commercials in a broadcast.

A commercial feedback circuitry 590 is operable to provide feedback of auser's selection of which types of commercials to be viewed. Thisfeedback includes any number of information including the product types,the product lines, and the types of commercials. Companies purchasingcommercial air time from the cable television server 530 are providedinstantaneous feedback on the success/failure of their advertisements.This ability to provide accurate consumer feedback would provide asignificant improvement over the conventional methods of trying to modelconsumer choices and preferences.

A business interaction circuitry 592 is also communicatively coupled tothe integrated cable modem and cable television 510 in variousembodiments of the invention. The business interaction circuitry 592 isoperable cooperatively with the commercial feedback circuitry 590, ifdesired, to allow real time interaction with companies and customersseeking to transact business with a user of the integrated cable modemand cable television 510. The user may also perform businesstransactions with companies using the business interaction circuitry592. For example, in one embodiment, a user of the integrated cablemodem and cable television 510 is afforded the opportunity, by using thebusiness interaction circuitry 592, to purchase advertised items from avendor who purchases commercial air time from the cable televisionserver 530. Similarly, one of the companies purchasing commercial airtime from the cable television server 530 may perform modification oftheir advertising commitment with the company operating the cabletelevision server 530. If desired, this modification is based on theresponse of users of integrated cable modem and cable televisions toparticular advertising. The integrated cable modem and cable television510 is operable to perform complete business transactions without humaninteraction.

FIG. 6 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of a contentmanagement system 600 built in accordance with certain aspects of thepresent invention. The content management system 600, in its most basicrepresentation, contains a cable television server 630 and an integratedcable modem and cable television 610. The cable television server 630 isoperable to provide a cable television broadcast service 632 or anarchived broadcast database 634. The cable television server 630 employscontent tagging circuitry 631 to attach a rating to each of thebroadcasts is transmits. The rating is, in certain embodiments of theinvention, those known to the television and movie industries such as G,PG, PG-13, R, X, XXX, MA, Y, etc. In addition, any other rating systemthat used to depict the content of a broadcast is included withoutdeparting from the scope and spirit of the invention. The archivedbroadcast database 634 contains, in certain embodiments of theinvention, archives of past broadcasts of the cable television server630. In even other embodiments of the invention, the archived broadcastdatabase 634 contains the future, planned broadcasts of the cabletelevision server 630.

The cable television broadcast service 632 of the cable televisionserver 630 provides an airwave broadcast signal 640 that is fed to theintegrated cable modem and cable television 610. The archived broadcastdatabase 634 of the cable television server 630 provides a signaloperable to provide both a video-on-demand 650 and an offline videodownload 665. Either of the video-on-demand 650 and the offline videodownload 665 is operable to be provided to the integrated cable modemand cable television 610 via an Internet 660. Alternatively, thevideo-on-demand 650 is operable to be provided directly to theintegrated cable modem and cable television 610.

In addition, the integrated cable modem and cable television 610 is alsooperable to perform download and playback of streaming video 667 fromthe cable television server 630. The streaming video download 667includes streaming download and playback of data that has an audiocomponent and a video component as well as solely an audio component orsolely a video component as described within various embodiments. As isknown in the art of streaming data, a portion of the data may bedownloaded to a buffer and the playback being initiated during the timein which the remainder of the streaming data is received. If desired, aportion of executable code, stored within the integrated cable modem andcable television 610, initiates the streaming video independent of anyuser interaction; alternatively, some user-interaction is requiredbefore the streaming video 667 commences. Also, this streaming video 667is operable via the Internet 660 or directly to the cable modem 616 asdesired in various embodiments of the invention.

The integrated cable modem and cable television 610 uses a signalstorage circuitry 620, containing a hard drive 622 in certainembodiments of the invention, and a signal retrieval/reproductioncircuitry 518 in similar fashion as the integrated cable modem and cabletelevision 210 of the FIG. 2, the integrated cable modem and cabletelevision 310 of the FIG. 3, the integrated cable modem and cabletelevision 410 of the FIG. 4, and the integrated cable modem and cabletelevision 510 of the FIG. 5 to perform storage and retrieval of thebroadcast or archived signal.

The integrated cable modem and cable television 610 contains a contentmanagement circuitry 614 that itself contains a content pro filercircuitry 614 a and a content tag detection circuitry 614 cc. Thecontent profiler circuitry 614 a contains a content interaction/querycircuitry 614 aa and a content modification circuitry 614 bb. In muchthe same as the integrated cable modem and cable television 510 of theFIG. 5 performs selection of commercials, the integrated cable modem andcable television 610 of the FIG. 6 performs selection of broadcasts as afunction of content. For example, a user could select that onlybroadcasts of a specific rating be received. Alternatively, theintegrated cable modem and cable television 610 is operable to performmodification of the broadcast using the content modification circuitry614 bb in much the same way that many of the major television networksmodify certain programs for violence and nudity so that they areacceptable for a broader audience. In addition, a user of the integratedcable modem and cable television 610 can select only certain types ofrating or content, i.e., only R rated programs or only programscontaining violence. Any combination of rating and content is includedto be selected by a user.

A content feedback circuitry 690 is operable in much the same way as thecommercial feedback circuitry 590 provides feedback of users' selectionsof commercials in the FIG. 5. The content feedback circuitry 690 isoperable to provide feedback of a user's selection of which types ofrating and content of programs are to be viewed. This feedback includesinformation including the rating and the content of programs selected byusers. Broadcast companies are provided instantaneous feedback on thetypes of broadcast programs that are most desirable for theirsubscribers. This ability to provide accurate cable television consumerfeedback would provide advantage in choosing what types of programs aremost desired by users as well as helping to provide intelligentdecision-making for potential advertisers who desire to purchasecommercial time. Knowing the types programs that are most commonlyselected would allow companies to purchase commercial time in anintelligent manner.

Similar to the embodiment shown in the FIG. 5, a business interactioncircuitry 692 is also communicatively coupled to the integrated cablemodem and cable television 610 in various embodiments of the invention.The business interaction circuitry 692 is operable cooperatively withthe content feedback circuitry 690, if desired, to allow real timeinteraction with companies and customers seeking to transact businesswith a user of the integrated cable modem and cable television 610. Theuser may also perform business transactions with companies using thebusiness interaction circuitry 692. For example, in one embodiment, auser of the integrated cable modem and cable television 610 is affordedthe opportunity, by using the business interaction circuitry 692, topurchase advertised items from a vendor who purchases commercial airtime from the cable television server 630. Similarly, one of thecompanies purchasing commercial air time from the cable televisionserver 630 may perform modification of their advertising commitment withthe company operating the cable television server 630. If desired, thismodification is based on the response of users of integrated cable modemand cable televisions to particular advertising. The integrated cablemodem and cable television 610 is operable to perform complete businesstransactions without human interaction.

FIG. 7A is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of a timecompression system 700 built in accordance with certain aspects of thepresent invention. The time compression system 700 contains a cabletelevision server 730 and an integrated cable modem and cable television710. The cable television server 730 employs a signal monitoringcircuitry 732 and a signal compression circuitry 734, that itselfcontains a data extraction circuitry 734 a, to generate atime-compressed signal 740. The time-compressed signal 740 is providedto the integrated cable modem and cable television 710 for playback as areproduced time-compressed signal 730.

Studies have shown that certain portions of program can be intelligentlycompressed without any perceptual degradation in the overall quality toa viewer or listener. For portions of a broadcast that are substantiallysimilar in video and audio data content as determined by the signalmonitoring circuitry 732, a certain number of frames is intelligentlyextracted using the data extraction circuitry 734 a, so that an amountof time is saved from the overall broadcast. For example, when a sceneis drawn out over a relatively long period of time and much of the datais highly correlated and similar, a predetermined number of frames (sayevery 10^(th) frame) is extracted from the overall broadcast signal, sothat the signal is compressed into the time-compressed signal 740. Anynumber of intelligent methods are used to determine when the signal issufficiently similar such that a portion of it can be extracted withoutdeparting from the scope and spirit of the invention.

FIG. 7B is a system diagram illustrating another embodiment of a timecompression system 705 built in accordance with certain aspects of thepresent invention. The time compression system 705 contains a cabletelevision server 735 and an integrated cable modem and cable television715. The integrated cable modem and cable television 715 employs asignal monitoring circuitry 717 and a signal compression circuitry 719,that itself contains a data extraction circuitry 719 a, to convert anun-compressed signal 745 into a reproduced time-compressed signal 735.

As described above with respect to the time compression system 700 ofthe FIG. 7 A, Studies have shown that certain portions of program can beintelligently compressed without any perceptual degradation in theoverall quality to a viewer or listener. For portions of a broadcastthat are substantially similar in video and audio data content asdetermined by the signal monitoring circuitry 717, a certain number offrames is intelligently extracted using the data extraction circuitry719 a, so that an amount of time is saved from the overall broadcast.For example, when a scene is drawn out over a relatively long period oftime and much of the data is highly correlated and similar, apredetermined number of frames (say every 10th frame) is extracted fromthe overall broadcast signal, so that the signal is compressed into thereproduced time-compressed signal 735. Any number of intelligent methodsare used to determine when the signal is sufficiently similar such thata portion of it can be extracted without departing from the scope andspirit of the invention.

The time compression system 700 of the FIG. 7A and the time compressionsystem 705 of the FIG. 7B are illustrative of where the time compressionof a signal is performed in either of server (the cable televisionserver 730 of the FIG. 7 A) or a receiver (the integrated cable modemand cable television 715 of the FIG. 7B) within any of the variousembodiments illustrated above in the detailed description of the variousFigures.

FIG. 8 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of a televisionmanagement system 800 built in accordance with certain aspects of thepresent invention. A cable television server 830 is operable tobroadcast either one or both of a digital broadcast signal 850 and ananalog broadcast signal 840. A television 810 is operable to receive thedigital broadcast signal 850 and the analog broadcast signal 840. Incertain embodiments of the invention, the television 810 is anintegrated cable modem and cable television. The television 810 employsa digital receiver circuitry 852 to accommodate the digital broadcastsignal 850 and an analog receiver circuitry 842 to accommodate theanalog broadcast signal 840. The television 810 employs a two-waycommunication circuitry 852 that is operable to communicate with thecable television server 830 and any other two-way communication device823 as well via a two-way communication link 861.

In certain embodiments of the invention, the two-way communicationcircuitry 852 contains a cable modem 816 that is operable to communicatewith the cable television server 830 and the any other two-waycommunication device 823 as well via the two-way communication link 861.The two-way communication link 861 includes the Internet in someembodiments. The cable modem 816 is operable to communicate with anynumber of other devices via the Internet 860. For examples, thetelevision 810 is operable to communicate with a computer 811 and alocal area network (LAN) 890 using either the two-way communicationcircuitry 852 and/or the cable modem 816. Any other Internet/LANappliance 812 is also communicatively coupled to the Internet 860. Ifdesired, the local area network (LAN) 890 is an Internet-operablenetwork' in applications desirous of access to the Internet 860. Incertain embodiments of the invention, the local area network (LAN) 890is a home based LAN.

The television 810 also contains signal transformation circuitry 825 anda signal storage circuitry 820. The signal transformation circuitry 825is operable to perform transformation of any received signal, such aseither one of the digital broadcast signal 850 and the analog broadcastsignal 840, into any other form of signal. For example, the analogbroadcast signal 840 may be transformed into a digital signal within thetelevision 810. Moreover, the signal transformation circuitry 825 isoperable to perform transformation of a stored signal into the anotherformat for display or transmission to any of the other devicescommunicatively coupled to the television 810. The signal storagecircuitry 820 is operable to store any received signal, such as eitherone of the digital broadcast signal 850 and the analog broadcast signal840, for subsequent transformation, display, or transmission.

In certain embodiments of the invention, the television managementsystem 800 provides for communication from the television 810 to thecable television server 830. The television 810 is operable to receivebroadcast signals directly from the cable television server 830 withoutany interaction or communication with the cable television server 830.However, the television 810 is also operable to receive broadcastsignals from the cable television server 830 after having selectedcertain programming and requested that it be provided to the television810. If desired, the television 810 is operable to select a particularbroadcast and to receive that broadcast. Moreover, a number of cabletelevisions, or a number of integrated cable modem and cabletelevisions, may be operable to select a particular broadcast and toreceive that broadcast. For example, the number of integrated cablemodem and cable televisions are operable to select the particularbroadcast and to receive that broadcast. The cable television server 830is operable to process the selections of the television 810 or thenumber of integrated cable modem and cable televisions in order toprocess the selections and to determine which broadcast to perform.

Alternatively, the television 810 is operable to receive programmingfrom the cable television server 830 by transmission via the two-waycommunication link 861. The requested and received signal may then bestored in the signal storage circuitry 820. If necessary or if desired,requested and received signal may be transformed into a more desirableor usable form, depending on the application, by the signaltransformation circuitry 825.

Also included within the scope and spirit of the invention is theability to perform such operations initially using a devicecommunicatively coupled to the Internet 860 or the local area network(LAN) 890, and then to provide the video and/or audio data to thetelevision 810.

For example, the computer 811 is operable to perform all of thefunctionality described within the television 810 in certain embodimentsof the invention. In such an instant, the computer 811 is operable toperform all of the described functionality such as receipt, processing,storage, and transformation of a signal and then to provide it toanother device, such as another computer or the television 810 oranother television.

In other words, all of the functionality described within the variousembodiment of the television 810, as well as the various embodiments ofintegrated cable modem and cable televisions within the various Figures,may be incorporated within a computer capable of offering suchfunctionality. As the components and functionality offered by atelevision and a computer continue to merge and the differences becomeless and less, a “computer” that is operable for televisionfunctionality, or having a built in television, is such a device intowhich the various functionality of the present invention may also beincorporated. In such an instance, a “black box” device, having bothcomputer functionality and television functionality would be operable toperform and to provide the various aspects of the present invention.

It is also noted that the devices used to perform the communicativecoupling between the various devices described in the variousembodiments of the present invention include both wireline, wireless,optical, and other communicative coupling methods and practices known inthe art. For example, the communicative coupling between the two-waycommunication circuitry 852 and the two-way communication link 861 isperformed via a wireline connection in certain embodiments of theinvention; in others, it is a wireless connection. Similarly, thecommunicative coupling between the cable modem 816 and the Internet 860is performed using either a wireline connection or a wirelessconnection.

The television 810 is operable to perform coupling to any intermediaryconnection that subsequently allows connection to the two-waycommunication link 861 or the Internet 860 without departing from thescope and spirit of the invention. For example, an infrared or radiofrequency connection may be made from the television 810 to a peripheralintermediary device or a wall connection in a building before thecommunicative coupling to either the two-way communication link 861 orthe Internet 860 is completed. While in certain embodiments of theinvention, the television 810 is a true “cable” television having aphysical cabled connection between itself and the wall, there may beportions of the communicative coupling between the television 810 andthe other various devices within the present invention that includewireless communication as well. The use and interchange of such wireline(e.g., “cable”) interconnections and wireless interconnections, withinany of the various embodiments, does not depart from the scope andspirit of the invention. A cable television is operable where a portionof its communicative coupling is provided via such wireless connections.

Similarly, the communicative coupling provided by the local area network(LAN) 890 is achieved using either wireline or wireless connections. Forall purposes within this patent application, the term wireline includesthe use of dielectric “wired” media such as optical fiber having aphysical component completing the communicative coupling between thevarious devices.

A business interaction circuitry 892 is also communicatively coupled tothe television 810 via the two-way communication link 861, which mayinclude the Internet 860, and the cable television server 830 in variousembodiments of the invention. The business interaction circuitry 892 ofthe FIG. 8 is operable is all of the ways described for the businessinteraction circuitries 592 and 692 within the embodiments of the FIGS.5 and 6, respectively. The business interaction circuitry 892 isaccessible by a user of the television 810 and anyone with authorizedaccess to the cable television server 830. For example, such a company893 is able to use the business interaction circuitry 892 in certainembodiments of the invention. The company 893 may purchase advertisingtime or air time from the cable television server 830. In addition, thecompany 893 may conduct business transactions with a user of thetelevision 810. Also, the interconnectivity between the company 893 andthe cable television server 830, and the two-way communication link 861,is operable when portions of interconnectivity include wirelessconnections as well.

A user of the television 810 is able to initiate and conduct suchbusiness transactions with the company 893 and the cable televisionserver 830. Alternatively, the television 810 automatically initiatesthe business transactions with the company 893 and the cable televisionserver 830. For example, the television 810 is operable to be programmedto perform certain business transactions at certain times without thenecessity of user interaction in various embodiments of the invention.One example of such a business transaction includes a payment of cabletelevision service via the two-way communication link 861. Otherbusiness transactions are also included within the scope and spirit ofthe invention. It is also noted that any other devices communicativelycoupled to the television 810 and the cable television server 830 areable to perform business transactions as well.

FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram illustrating an embodiment of abroadcast signal processing method 900 performed in accordance withcertain aspects of the present invention. In a block 910, a broadcastsignal is received. The broadcast signal is any number of broadcastsignals including a digital broadcast signal 911 and an analog broadcastsignal 912. Then, in a block 920, the broadcast signal received in theblock 910 is processed in the block 920. Ultimately, the processedbroadcast signal is stored in a block 930. Alternatively, the processedbroadcast signal is either displayed and/or transmitted in a block 935.The display in the block 935 include any number of display methodsincluding using a television, a computer, or any other system operableto perform display of a broadcast signal or a processed broadcastsignal. The transmission of the processed broadcast signal in the block935 includes any of the processed described in the present inventionincluding via the Internet or via a local area network (LAN) to anynumber of devices communicatively coupled to either and or both theInternet or the LAN.

FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram illustrating an embodiment of adigital signal processing method 1000 performed in accordance withcertain aspects of the present invention. In a block 1010, a digitalsignal is received. The received digital signal in the block 1010 is anynumber of signals including a video-on-demand digital signal 1011 and anoffline video download signal 1012. In a block 1020, the receiveddigital signal is processed in a block 1020. Then, that processeddigital signal is stored in a block 1030. Alternatively, the processeddigital signal is either displayed and/or transmitted in a block 1035.The display in the block 1035 include any number of display methodsincluding using a television, a computer, or any other system operableto perform display of a broadcast signal or a processed broadcastsignal. The transmission of the processed broadcast signal in the block1035 includes any of the processed described in the present inventionincluding via the Internet or via a local area network (LAN) to anynumber of devices communicatively coupled to either and or both theInternet or the LAN.

FIG. 11 is a functional block diagram illustrating an embodiment of asignal processing method 1100 performed in accordance with certainaspects of the present invention. In a block 1114, a signal isrequested. Before the request of the signal in the block 1114, a signalis received in a block 1110. In certain embodiments of the invention, afirst signal may be received in the block 1110, then a second signal isreceived in the block 1114. Alternatively, the same signal is receivedin the block 1110 and requested, perhaps for continued reception, in theblock 1114. Then, in a block 1116, a signal is received. The signalreceived in the block 1116 is different than the signal received in theblock 1110; it is the same signal in other embodiments. Then, the signalis processed in a block 1120. Is desired in certain embodiments, thesignal received in the block 1110 is processed in the block 1120.Alternatively, the signal received in the block 1114 is processed in theblock 1120. If desired, both the signal received in the block 1110 andthe signal received in the block 1114 are processed in the block 1120.

Ultimately, the processed signal is stored in a block 1130.Alternatively, the processed signal is either displayed and/ortransmitted in a block 1135. The display in the block 1135 include anynumber of display methods including using a television, a computer, orany other system operable to perform display of a broadcast signal or aprocessed broadcast signal. The transmission of the processed broadcastsignal in the block 1135 includes any of the processed described in thepresent invention including via the Internet or via a local area network(LAN) to any number of devices communicatively coupled to either and orboth the Internet or the LAN. The signal processing method 1100 includesthe transmission of a signal between various devices, as shown in theembodiment of the invention shown in the FIG. 8.

FIG. 12 is a functional block diagram illustrating a send process 1200performed using certain aspects of the present invention. The FIG. 12shows the send process 1200 that occurs if a request cannot be fulfilledlocally. This send process 1200 waits for an event to occur. If theevent is a new request message to send, then it attempts to service thesend request immediately. Of the data links that are available, theprocess chooses the highest quality of service (QOS) not exceeding thecost required by the request. If the optimal data link fails then eachof the data links that do not exceed the requested cost will be tried indescending order of QOS until the list is exhausted or the data is sent.The other event that can trigger the link selection process is when anew data link becomes connected to the device. Since data packets havebeen queued because the appropriate cost link was not available, theavailability of a new link triggers an examination of the send queue forrequests that can be sent over the new link. Thus, data will be sent assoon as an appropriate data link is available to the system. The FIG. 12shows the send process 1200 of a data collection terminal. The requestis always processed when it is first put in the queue and then if it isnot sent it will be put in the send queue with the other requestswaiting an appropriate data link, Also when a new data link is detectedall messages that can use that data link will be sent. The variousfunctionality of the send process 1200 shown in the FIG. 12 is alsodescribed below from another perspective.

In a block 1210, any system that performs the send process 1200 waitsfor an event to occur. After one has occurred, then, in a decision block1212, it is determined of the event is a new request. If it is a newevent, then the send process 1200 proceeds to the block 1214, where ahighest QOS is selected for cost. For example, the send process 1200 maybe further controlled to choose a highest QOS that does not exceed thecost required by the request. Then, in a block 1216, the send process1200 attempts to send requests. Further in a decision block 1218, it isdetermined whether the attempted send action of the block 1216 wassuccessful. If the send was not successful, as determined in thedecision block 1218, then in a decision block 1224, it is furtherdetermined whether there are more data links to try. If there are moredata links to try as determined in the decision block 1224, then thesend process 1200 returns to the attempt to send requests block 1216.Alternatively, however, if the send was successful, as determined in thedecision block 1218, then the send process 1200 returns to the wait forevent functional block 1210.

However, back to the determination in the decision block 1212, if it isdetermined that the event of the block 1210 is not a new request, thenin a decision block 1220, it is further determined if any new data linksare available. If there are none available, then the send process 1200waits returns to the wait for event functional block 1210. However, ifthere are new data links available as determined in the decision block1220, then in a decision block 1222, it is determined whether there aredata in queue. If there are data in queue, then the send process goes tothe block 1214 where a highest quality of service (QOS) is selected forcost. If no data is in queue, however, the send process 1200 goes to aput request on send queue functional block 1226. Similarly, if in thedecision block 1224 it is determined that there are no more data linksto try, then the send process 1200 also goes to the put request on sendqueue functional block 1226. After the operation of the put request onsend queue functional block 1226, the send process 1200 returns to thewait for event functional block 1210. The send process 1200 may operateindefinitely in this continuous operation.

FIG. 13 is a functional block diagram illustrating a receive processperformed using certain aspects of the present invention. The FIG. 13shows the receive process 1300 of receiving responses from anothersystems component. This process matches the response with the originalrequest through the transaction number stored in the request andinserted into the response by an upstream information system. This datais then stored via transaction number and the upper layer applicationprogram notified that the transaction result is available forprocessing. The FIG. 13 also shows processing of a request from anothersystems component. The response process will copy the maximum costinformation from the request to the response message for sending to thehost and thus the “send process” as described in FIG. 1 can be used tosend responses as well as requests. The FIG. 13 shows the receiveprocess 1300. The response may be out of sequence from the users currentactivities and thus the user must be given the opportunity to view thetransaction or to continue with the current task and return to thetransaction later. The various functionality of the receive process 1300shown in the FIG. 13 is also described below from another perspective.

In a block 1310, the receive process 1300 waits to receive a message.Then, when a message is received, it is then determined whether thereceived message is a request in a decision block 1312. If it isdetermined that the received message is a request in the decision block1312, then the request is fulfilled in a block 1320. Then, the responseis put in a send queue in a block 1318.

However, If it is determined that the received message is not a requestin the decision block 1312, then the received message is matched with atransaction identification (ID) in a block 1314. The message is thenstored for user retrieval in a block 1316, and the user is also alertedthat the request has been fulfilled in a block 1322. The receive process1300 then goes back to the wait to receive a message functional block1310. Similar to the send process 1200, the receive process 1300 mayoperate indefinitely in this continuous operation. Both the send process1200 and the receive process 1300 may operate cooperatively in variousembodiments of the invention.

Moreover, both the send process 1200 and the receive process 1300 may beemployed within any of the various embodiments of the invention toeffectuate a high QOS connection (be it wireless or wireline), amongother benefits of the send process 1200 and the receive process 1300.For example, when any of the various embodiments of integrated cablemodem and cable televisions shown above in the various embodiments ofthe invention desire to find a particular connection to a cabletelevision server, or simple a television server (say in a wirelesscontext), the send process 1200 and the receive process 1300 may beemployed to that end. The same applicability of the send process 1200and the receive process 1300 may similarly be extended to the variousembodiments shown below as well.

FIG. 14 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of a vehicleadapted media system that 1400 is built in accordance with certainaspects of the present invention. The vehicle adapted media system that1400 is operable using a vehicle media system 1410 that may be mountedwithin a vehicle 1404. The vehicle media system 1410 is also equipped toperform wireless communication functionality. An antenna may used incertain embodiments of the invention. The vehicle media system 1410 maybe permanently mounted within the vehicle 1404, but as will be seen invarious embodiments of the invention, a vehicle media system 1410 thatis a portable/dockable vehicle media system 1415 is oftentimes moredesirable for accommodating many diverse applications. However, thevehicle media system 1410 may nevertheless be permanently mounted withinthe vehicle 1404 without departing from the scope and spirit of theinvention.

The vehicle 1404 is shown as being parked within a garage/parking space1406. The garage/parking space 1406 is merely exemplary, and anyenvironment that offers the functionality of the garage/parking space1406 is operable using various aspects of the invention, as will beseen. The garage/parking space 1406 is illustrated as an example of aplace in which nearly every vehicle 1404 will be at one time or another.Within the garage/parking space 1406, the vehicle media system 1410 isable to perform communicative coupling, and communication, with a highspeed wireless local area network (LAN) 1490. It is noted, however, thatthe vehicle media system 1410, when provided with hard-wire, or wirelinecommunicative coupling, may also perform communicative coupling andcommunication with the high speed wireless LAN 1490. As described abovein various embodiments of the invention, the use of segmented portionsof wireless or wireline communicative coupling between variouscomponents of the various embodiments does not depart from the scope andspirit of the invention. The high speed wireless LAN 1490 is thenoperable to communicate with the Internet 1460, or any other network1470 as well.

The high speed wireless LAN 1490 is exemplary of a high speed Internetaccess, or any other network access for that matter, that may achievedwith the vehicle media system 1410. The vehicle media system may also beequipped to perform all of the functionality of the various embodimentsof integrated cable modem and cable televisions shown above in thevarious embodiments of the invention. For example, the high speedwireless LAN 1490 may provide the channel through which offline videodownload, streaming video, or other media transfers may be performedwithin the scope and spirit of the invention. Similarly, the vehiclemedia system 1410 may also be equipped to provide for receipt of airwavebroadcasts, of both analog and digital format. That is to say, thevehicle media system 1410 may include all of the various functionalityof the various embodiments of integrated cable modem and cabletelevisions shown above in the various embodiments of the invention. Thevehicle adaptability of the vehicle media system 1410, within thecontext of the vehicle adapted media system that 1400, illustrates oneexample of the adaptability of the various aspects of the presentinvention in multiple contexts, including those involving means ofindividual transportation, such as the vehicle 1404. It is understoodthat a media system built in accordance with the invention could also beadapted to any other vehicle, including common carrier means oftransportation such as trains, airplanes, and other vehicles as well.

FIG. 15 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of a portableadapted media system 1500 that is built in accordance with certainaspects of the present invention. A portable media system 1515 isoperable to perform communication with a network 1570 using any of avariety or communication link paths. The portable media system 1515 maycontain each of the various circuitries and devices contained within thevehicle media system 1410 of the FIG. 14 in certain embodiments of theinvention. It may also contain additional circuitry offering greaterfunctionality as well as will be seen in the various embodimentsdescribed herein. The network 1570 is the Internet 1560 itself incertain embodiments of the invention, but the network 1570 may also beany other network as well without departing from the scope and spirit ofthe invention.

In one instance, the portable media system 1515 is operable to performcommunication with the network 1570 using the functionality offered by apublic facility that supports network access 1530. The public facilitysupporting network access 1530 is any number of various types of publicfacilities. Some examples of the public facility supporting networkaccess 1530 include an airport 1532 and a train station 1534. However,any other public facility 1536 is also included within the scope andspirit of the invention. The public facility supporting network access1530 employs a network access system 1595 that may employ a high speedwireless LAN 1590 to provide for access to the network 1570.

The manner is which the portable media system 1515 accesses the network1570, using the functionality of the public facility supporting networkaccess 1530, may be performed in any number of ways as shown by thenetwork interface options 1540. For example, the network interface maybe achieved using a wireless tower 1544 that communicatively couples toa terrestrial-based wireless network 1545 that itself communicativelycouples to the network 1570. However, in alternative embodiments, thenetwork interface may be achieved using a satellite 1542 thatcommunicatively couples to a satellite-based wireless network 1543 thatitself communicatively couples to the network 1570. Moreover, any otherwireless interface 1547 may also be used to perform the communicativecoupling. It is also understood that a wireline communicative coupling,that connects the portable media system 1515 to the network 1570 throughthe public facility supporting network access 1530 is also envisionedwithin the scope and spirit of the invention. For example, a wirelinehook-up may be provided for the portable media system 1515 within thepublic facility supporting network access 1530 to allow access to thenetwork 1570. In addition, any number of communication links may existwithin the network interface options 1540 by which the portable mediasystem 1515 may access the network 1570.

In another instance of connecting the portable media system 1515 to thenetwork 1570, any number of network interface options 1550 may also beused. These network interface options 1550 may be accessed by theportable media system 1515 using a wide area wireless network 1591. Fromcertain perspectives, the wide area wireless network 1591 is employedwhen the portable media system 1515 does not have access to anotherconnection to the network 1570. For example, in situations where theportable media system 1515 cannot get access to the high speed wirelessLAN 1590, or another high performance network that allows for networkaccess, the portable media system uses the wide area wireless network1591 to access the network 1570.

The network interface options 1550 includes an indefinite number oflinks, shown as a link #1 1551, . . . , and a link #n 1555. Each of thevarious links 1551 . . . 1555 include a number of parameters by whichthey may be characterized. For example, the link #1 1551 includes a cost1552 by which the link #1 1551 may be compared to the other links withinthe network interface options 1550. In certain instances, a user of theportable media system 1515 may prefer to perform connection to thenetwork 1570 via a cheaper link. However, in other situations, the needfor connectivity is of such high importance that the cost of the link isof much reduced importance. The link #1 1551 may also include any otherparameter 1553 by which it may be characterized and compared to otherlinks within the network interface options 1550. Similarly, the link #n1555 may also be characterized using a cost 1556 and any other parameter1557.

It is also noted that the network interface options 1540 and the networkinterface options 1550 may both contain common elements. That is to say,the network interface options 1540 may be viewed as having multiplelinks, each of which may be characterized by certain parametersincluding cost and any other parameter. Similarly, the network interfaceoptions 1540 may also include all of the various functionality of thenetwork interface options 1540 as well.

FIG. 16 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of a media servernetwork 1600 constructed in accordance with certain aspects of thepresent invention. The media server network includes a media server 1610and an indefinite number of other media server(s) 1680 that allcommunicatively couple to a network 1670. Again, the network 1670 mayitself be the Internet in certain embodiments of the invention. All ofthe functionality of the media server 1610 may also be included withinthe other media server(s) 1680 as well. An indefinite number of mediacustomer(s) 1690 also are provided communicative coupling to the network1670. The indefinite number of media customer(s) 1690 may include as fewas one customer without departing from the scope and spirit of theinvention.

The media server 1610 includes processing circuitry 1612 and mediastorage circuitry 1616. The media server 1610 employs interfacecircuitry 1614 to perform communicative coupling to the network 1670.The media server 1610 is operable to perform various serverfunctionality 1618. The server functionality 1618 includes mediamanagement 1630 and link assessment 1620. For example, the serverfunctionality 1618 provides for assessment of the various links by whichit may perform communicative coupling to the network 1670 in terms of anumber of parameters including cost 1622, speed 1624, reliability 1626,or any other factor 1629 as well.

The server functionality 1618 of the media server 1610, in terms ofmedia management 1630, may perform media management 1630 between themedia server 1610 and the other media server(s) 1680 or simply withinthe media server 1610. The media management 1630 includes management interms of demand 1631. This demand 1631 may be characterized in terms ofmany parameters including geographical 1632 and overall 1633. That is tosay, there may be some media that is of particular high demand incertain geographical regions. For example, in the context of sportingevents, it may be desirable to ensure that a particular media server,located within relatively close geographical proximity to a given citycontains media that does have of will have a high demand within thatcity. Any other partition of geography may also be sued withoutdeparting from the scope and spirit of the invention, including a stateor a region. This media may then be stored within the media server 1610using the media storage circuitry 1616.

Media management 1630 may also be performed in terms of customer pricing1634. For example, anyone of the media customer(s) 1690 may set certaincaps or cutoffs of media for which they do not even desire to purchase.Moreover, there may be links over which certain of the media customer(s)1690 may not wish to acquire media because the cost is prohibitive forthem. Therefore, the customer pricing 1634 may be performed usingconstraints provided by the media customer(s) 1690. However, thecustomer pricing 1634 may be performed using constraints provided by themedia server 1610 as well. For example, a company operating the mediaserver 1610 may perform customer pricing 1634 as well. The company mayset customer pricing 1634 to be processed using the media server 1610.

Media management 1630 may also be performed in terms of distributionspeed 1636. The media server 1610 may be adapted to perform distributionof media only when the distribution speed 1636 is above a certainthreshold. Alternatively, anyone of the media customer(s) 1690 maydecide to receive distribution of media from the media server 1610 onlywhen the distribution speed 1636 meets a certain threshold. Thethreshold for which the media server performs distribution of media anda customer-defined threshold need not be the same threshold.

Media management 1630 may also be performed in terms of allocating mediastored among any number of various server(s) 1638. For example, mediamanagement 1630 may include moving media from one media server toanother based on any of the above-described considerations. For example,If it is determined that certain media is infrequently demanded in agiven geographical region, then that media may then be transferred to amedia server that may more appropriately store the media. In addition,there may be any other factor 1639 by which media management may beperformed.

FIG. 17 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of an adaptivemedia server network 1700 that is built in accordance with certainaspects of the present invention. Any number of media servers arecommunicatively coupled to a network 1770. Again, the network 1770 mayitself be the Internet in certain embodiments of the invention. Inaddition, any number of media customers are also able to communicativelycouple to the network 1770. The functionality of the adaptive mediaserver network 1700 allows for adaptive media processing, includingmedia transfer among the various media servers within the adaptive mediaserver network 1700. Each of the media servers within the adaptive mediaserver network 1700 are operable to perform communication andcooperative processing to handle the various media stored andtransferred among and between them.

The indefinite number of media servers are shown as a media server #11710, a media server #2 1720, . . . , and a media server #n 1730. Inaddition, the indefinite number of media customers are shown as a mediacustomer #A 1791, a media customer #B 1792, a media customer #C 1793, amedia customer #D 1794, . . . , and a media customer #Z 1799.

Sometimes, certain of the media servers and some of the media customersare both in a high demand geographical area 1741. In such instances, itmakes sense to ensure that high demand media, as desired by the mediacustomer #A 1791 and the media customer #B 1792, is stored locally onthe media server #1 1710 within the high demand geographical area 1741.This is shown graphically as the functional block 1712 where high demandmedia is stored locally on the media server #1 1710 for use by the mediacustomer #A 1791 and the media customer #B 1792. It is also noted thatthe high demand geographical area 1741 may not suggest solely that themedia customer #A 1791 and the media customer #B 1792 as well as themedia server #1 1710 are all within a common geographical area, butrather the media server #1 1710 may be the best media server that canprovide for high demand media to the media customer #A 1791 and themedia customer #B 1792. That is to say, the media server #1 1791, thoughperhaps further away from the media customer #A 1791 and the mediacustomer #B 1792 in terms of distance, they are nevertheless “closer” interms of performance of communicative coupling offered by the network1770. For example, is situations where the media server #2 1720 is veryclose to the media customer #A 1791 and the media customer #B 1792, yetit may be accessed via a dial-up modem, whereas the media server #1 1710may be accessed via an Ethernet connection, the media server #1 1710 maybe “closer” from a network perspective.

Analogously, it may be more efficient to transfer infrequently demandedmedia from one media server to another media server, as shown by thefunctional block 1732 within the media server #n 1730. This situationmay occur in a low demand geographical area 1742. It may be that themedia customer #Z 1799 perform very little demand, perhaps none at all,of any media stored locally on the media server #n 1730. In such aninstance, it may make sense to transfer the infrequently demanded mediato another media server where it is demanded more frequently, as shownby the functional block 1732. This will free up space on the mediaserver #n 1730.

In addition, the various media servers may modify media pricing based ondemand (or any other factors as well), as shown by the modify pricingbased on demand (or other factors) functional block 1722 within themedia server #2 1720. It is also understood that the functionality ofthe functional blocks 1712, 1722, and 1732 may be included within eachof the various media servers, namely, the media server #1 1710, themedia server #2 1720, . . . , and the media server #n 1730.

FIG. 18 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of vehicleadapted media system operation 1800 that is performed in accordance withcertain aspects of the present invention. A vehicle 1804 that includes avehicle media system 1810 begins in a home based region 1801. Thevehicle 1804 may be parked at the operator's home 1805. Alternatively,the home based region 1801 may simply be a region in which the vehiclemedia system 1810 is deemed to be in its “home region.” Such terminologyis sometimes used in the cellular telephone context. It may be that thevehicle media system 1810 is afforded reduced wireless connectivityrates or greater service within the home based region 1801.Alternatively, the home based region 1801 may simply be the region inwhich the operator of the vehicle 1801 may access the functionalityoffered within his home 1805. For example, in various embodiments of theinvention as shown and described above, a garage or parking space for avehicle, that may be at the home 1805, may include network access via ahigh speed wireless LAN. Any of the various functionality describedabove within these embodiments is also included within the vehicle mediasystem 1810 shown in the FIG. 18.

The vehicle 1804 is then operable to perform some transportation,including a commute 1803 to a work based region 1802 in which thevehicle operator's workplace 1815 is located. Alternatively, the vehicle1804 is then operable to perform some transportation to any other region1830. During the commute 1803, the vehicle media system 1810 is operableto perform wireless download of media. This wireless download may alsoinclude receipt of streaming media as well via a wireless means. Thewireless download may also include receipt in real time of a broadcastsignal, be it digital or analog, without departing from the scope andspirit of the invention, as described above in the various embodimentsof an integrated cable modem and cable television.

The manner is which the vehicle media system 1810 performs the wirelessmedia download during the commute 1803 is one of any number of variedoptions. For example, the wireless media download may be achieved usinga wireless tower 1844 that communicatively couples to aterrestrial-based wireless network 1845 that itself communicativelycouples to a network from which media is downloaded. However, inalternative embodiments, the wireless media download may be achievedusing a satellite 1842 that communicatively couples to a satellite-basedwireless network 1843 that itself communicatively couples to the networkfrom which media is downloaded. Moreover, any other wireless interface1847 may also be used to perform the communicative coupling to a networkfrom which media is downloaded.

After the vehicle 1804 has arrived at the work based region 1802 wherethe workplace 1815 is located, or to any other region 1830, then thevehicle media system 1810 is operable to perform playback of thedownloaded media. Again, the vehicle media system 1810 may also be aportable/dockable media system in accordance with the invention therebyallowing a user of the vehicle media system 1810 to remove it from thevehicle 1804 and take it with him into the workplace 1802 or any otherplace where playback of the downloaded media may be performed. Inaddition, the any other region 1830, whether it includes the work basedregion 1802 or the workplace 1815, may also provide for high speedwireless LAN network access. In addition, as is often the case in manyworkplaces 1815, there may also be provided high speed wireline networkaccess, within the any other region 1830, through which the vehiclemedia system 1810 may perform any of the functionality described abovein various embodiments of the invention including download of media,receipt of streaming media, and receipt of a broadcast transmission.

FIG. 19 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of portableadapted media system operation 1900 that is performed in accordance withcertain aspects of the present invention. A vehicle 1904 that includes aportable media system 1910 begins in a home based region 1901. Thevehicle 1904 may be parked at the operator's home 1905. Alternatively,the home based region 1901 may simply be a region in which the portablemedia system 1910 is deemed to be in its “home region.” Such terminologyis sometimes used in the cellular telephone context. It may be that theportable media system 1910 is afforded reduced wireless connectivityrates or greater service within the home based region 1901.Alternatively, the home based region 1901 may simply be the region inwhich the operator of the vehicle 1901 may access the functionalityoffered within his home 1905. For example, in various embodiments of theinvention as shown and described above, a garage or parking space for avehicle, that may be at the home 1905, may include network access via ahigh speed wireless LAN. Any of the various functionality describedabove within these embodiments is also included within the portablemedia system 1910 shown in the FIG. 19.

The vehicle 1904 is then operable to perform some transportation,including a transit 1903 to an airport 1932 in which an aircraft 1933 islocated. Alternatively, the vehicle 1904 is then operable to performsome transportation to any other region including a public facilitysupporting network access 1930. During the transit 1903, the portablemedia system 1910 is operable to perform wireless download of media.This wireless download may also include receipt of streaming media aswell via a wireless means. The wireless download may also includereceipt in real time of a broadcast signal, be it digital or analog,without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, asdescribed above in the various embodiments of an integrated cable modemand cable television and the various vehicle media systems.

The manner in which the portable media system 1910 performs the wirelessmedia download during the transit 1903 is one of any number of variedoptions. For example, as described in other embodiments, the wirelessmedia download may be achieved using a wireless tower thatcommunicatively couples to a terrestrial-based wireless network thatitself communicatively couples to a network from which media isdownloaded. However, in alternative embodiments, the wireless mediadownload may be achieved using a satellite that communicatively couplesto a satellite-based wireless network that itself communicativelycouples to the network from which media is downloaded. Moreover, anyother wireless interface may also be used to perform the communicativecoupling to a network from which media is downloaded.

After the vehicle 1904 has arrived at the airport 1932 where theaircraft 1933 is located, or to any other region, or a public facilitysupporting network access 1930, then the portable media system 1910 isoperable to perform playback of the downloaded media. Again, theportable media system 1910 may also be a vehicle media system inaccordance with the invention as well. A user of the portable mediasystem 1910 may then take the portable media system 1910 with him intothe airport 1932, and also onto the aircraft 1933, if so desired.Playback of downloaded media may then also be performed on the portablemedia system 1910 during a flight 1914 of the aircraft 1933. Ifpermitted by the Federal Aeronautic Administration, the portable mediasystem 1910 also offers the functionality to perform wireless downloadof media within the air using its own wireless communicationfunctionality. Alternatively, the portable media system 1910 may alsouse a telephone on board the aircraft 1933 to access a network fromwhich it may perform communicative coupling during the flight 1914 sothat media may be received.

Within any of these various places, playback of the downloaded media maybe performed. In addition, the public facility supporting network access1930 may also provide for high speed wireless LAN network access. Inaddition, there may also be provided high speed wireline network access,within the public facility supporting network access 1930, through whichthe portable media system 1910 may perform any of the functionalitydescribed above in various embodiments of the invention includingdownload of media, receipt of streaming media, and receipt of abroadcast transmission.

In view of the above detailed description of the present invention andassociated drawings, other modifications and variations will now becomeapparent to those skilled in the art. It should also be apparent thatsuch other modifications and variations may be effected withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: in an audio/video (A/V)processing device: receiving a broadcast signal that includes a firstcommercial; detecting the first commercial in the broadcast signal;obtaining a user commercial type selection; and controlling whether topresent the first commercial in the broadcast signal responsive to theuser commercial type selection.
 2. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: determining a commercial placement location for relocatingthe first commercial within the broadcast signal.
 3. The method of claim2, wherein the commercial placement location comprises a commercialsequence.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the commercial sequencecomprises time positioning information for multiple differentcommercials in the broadcast signal, including the first commercial. 5.The method of claim 2, further comprising: receiving an operator input;and determining the commercial placement location responsive to theoperator input.
 6. The method of claim 2, wherein determining thecommercial placement location comprises: determining to place multiplecommercials in the broadcast signal, including the first commercial, ata beginning of the broadcast signal.
 7. The method of claim 2, furthercomprising grouping together commercials of a particular commercialtype, including the first commercial.
 8. The method of claim 1, whereincontrolling whether to present comprises: determining to remove thefirst commercial from the broadcast signal.
 9. A device comprising:communication circuitry configured to: receive a broadcast signal thatincludes a first commercial; and commercial management circuitryconfigured to: detect the first commercial in the broadcast signal; andrelocate the first commercial to a placement location in the broadcastsignal.
 10. The device of claim 9, wherein the commercial managementcircuitry is configured to relocate the first commercial by: determininga commercial sequence of the broadcast signal for multiple commercials,including the first commercial, in accordance with a user commercialsequence selection.
 11. The device of claim 10, wherein the commercialmanagement circuitry is configured to determine the commercial sequenceby: determining to place the multiple commercials, including the firstcommercial, at a beginning of the broadcast signal.
 12. The device ofclaim 9, wherein the commercial management circuitry is configured torelocate the first commercial by: determining to relocate the firstcommercial to a beginning of the broadcast signal.
 13. The device ofclaim 9, wherein the commercial management circuitry is furtherconfigured to relocate the first commercial by removing the firstcommercial from the broadcast signal.
 14. The device of claim 9, whereinthe commercial management circuitry is further configured to: removemultiple commercials, including the first commercial, in the broadcastsignal in accordance with a user request.
 15. The device of claim 9,further comprising commercial feedback circuitry configured to provideinformation related to a user commercial type selection to a companyassociated with the first commercial.
 16. A device comprising:communication circuitry configured to: receive a broadcast signal thatincludes a multiple commercials;; and commercial management circuitryconfigured to: receive an operator type input indicative of a commercialtype preference; receive an operator location input indicate of acommercial location preference; recognize the multiple commercials inthe broadcast signal belong to a common commercial type characterized bythe operator type input; and relocate the multiple commercials belongingto the common commercial type to a sequence location in broadcast signalresponsive to the commercial location preference.
 17. The device ofclaim 16, wherein the commercial management circuitry is configured torelocate the multiple commercials by grouping the multiple commercialstogether in the broadcast signal.
 18. The device of claim 16, whereinthe commercial management circuitry is configured to relocate themultiple commercials to a beginning of the broadcast signal.
 19. Thedevice of claim 16, wherein the commercial management circuitry isfurther configured to remove a commercial from the broadcast signal. 20.The device of claim 16, further comprising commercial feedback circuitryconfigured to provide information related to the operator type input toa company associated with any of the multiple commercials.